Protective armor for cycle-riders.



F. MARCOVSKY.

PROTECTING ARMOH FOR CYCLE RIDERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5| 1914. 1,144,150..

Patented June 22, 1915.

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WITN asses 134M INVENTOFI F. MARCOVSKY.

PROTECTING ARMOR FOR CYCLE RIDERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 1914.

Patented June 22, 1915.

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FRANK MARGOVSKY, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROTECTIVE ARMOR FOR CYCLE-RIDERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, 1915.

Application filed August 5, .1914. Serial No. 855,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK MARoovsKY, a citizen of the Empire of Russia, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protective Armor for Cycle-Riders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flexible protective armor, and is particularly adapted for use by motor-cycleriders.

The objects in view are to provide a protective armor or suit having suflicient flexibility to permit of free and unhampered use of the limbs, together with an outer series of projecting pneumatic tubes or cushions capable of inflation.

One preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front view in elevation of the complete suit, including the helmet or head piece. Fig. 2 is a. rear view in elevation, the helmet being removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the head piece. indicated by the line III. III. of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the head piece, indicated by the line IV. IV. of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the metallic protecting coping of the upper portion of the head piece. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the supporting frame for the head piece.

Fig. 7 is a detail view, enlarged, showing a portion of one of the pneumatic tubes and its incorporation with the fabric of the suit. Fig. 8 is a sectional view, indicated by the line VIII. VIII. of Fig. 7. a

The suit in its entirety comprises a onepiece garment, having the body, legs and arms, and a detachable helmet or head piece, each of such portions being provided with inflatable cushioning elements adapted to be filled with compressed air, for the purpose of protecting the wearer from shocks or.

blows incidental to accidents or the use to which the armor is put.

The suit proper is of one piece of fabric, suitably cut to conform to the shape of 'the body, and sewed together, providing the body portion 2, the arms 3, 3, and the legs 4:, 4. The suit is made of suitable material,

"as canvas, or other strong fabric, and is divided vertically, either at the front or back, by a parting opening 5, each edge having a series of lacing holes or buttons, whereby it may be tightly laced together by the lacing indicated at 6, for the purpose of putting on and OH by the wearer. The body portion of the suit is covered at the front and back by a series of pneumatic tubes 7, of rubber or other suitable material, laid upon the fabric 2 of the suit, and inclosed within embracing flaps 8, 8, which surround the tube and which are laced together by laces 9 in the same manner as the suit itself is held together, whereby the tubes 7 are embraced on the outermost portion of the suit and protected, and provided for easy insertion or removal. The tubes as thus incased, and with the enveloping fabric, thus constitute series of vertically arranged inflatable ribs 10, running up and down along the back of the suit, asindicated in Fig. 2, carried over the shoulders, and then up and down the front, terminating in closed ends adjacent to the laced divisional slit 5, as in Fig. 1. Thearms 3 are covered in a similar manner by inflatable ribs 11, which are laid back and forth across the outer portions of the shoulders, and below the arm pits wound around the arms, terminating at the wrists, as shown. The front faces of the leg members 4 above the knee are covered by similar inflatable ribs 12, running back and forth across the upper portion of the leg above the knee, and at and below the knee being wound around the leg in the same manner as with the arms, thereby completely protecting the front lower portions of the leg sections, leaving the rear seat portion free. Each of such several inflatable rib portions is provided at any suitable point with a terminal connection 13 of wellknown nipple construction, provided with a check valve, for inflation of the tubular ribs by an air pump, aswill be readily understood, such connection being at readily available points, and whereby the several continouter and inner walls 14, 15, respectively, with an intervening air cavity.16, a sight opening 17 being provided at the front for the eyes or face of the wearer, the lower portion being preferably looped at the front and connected in any suitable manner, as indicated at 18, for convenience in attachment and detachment. The inner portion of the helmet is lined with an inclosing wall of cushioning material 19, as felt or other suitable substance, and the lower portion of the helmet and the sight opening is formed by end walls 20 of the outer inflatable hood. A suitable nipple 21 is also provided at a convenient location for connection with an air pump. The lower portion of the helmet, as thus made, is curved, as indicated at 22,

7 whereby to seat upon a supgorting cushion helmet itself. The base 24 as thus constructed is also provided with suitable attaching apertures 27, whereby it may be fixedly connected by holding buttons 28, with the supporting cushion 23, such buttons being of well-known construction, and similar to those used with automobile curtains for. connection and disconnection by one-quarter turn. The upper portion of the helmet is provided with the protecting coping shown in Fig. 5. This consists of a flat ring 29, which is set in the inner upper portion of the helmet, and is provided with a series of upwardly arched strips 30 of suitable light, strong material, as bamboo, etc., riveted to the ring 29, as indicated at 31, whereby to provide a comparatively light upwardly arching bracing support for the crown of the helmet. The ring 29 and its upper portion as thusmade is permanently incorporated in the helmet between the wall 15 and the cushion 19, as indicated in Fig. 3. The support 24 is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending diverging arms 32, fixedly connected with the base 24 and adapted to project upwardly through suitable receiving spaces 33 within the helmet between the inner cushion 19 and wall 15, and to abut against the underside of ring 29, as indicated in Fig. 3. By this construction the helmet itself is comparatively strong, well cushioned, and amply protective, and is supported in position above the main suitv in such a manner as to give it ample strength and positioning function,

1,144,i5o I while readily allowing for attachment or removal, and for ample convenience to the wearer in giving a free passage for the head and neck, and an outlook and breathing opening in the front. The fabric of the suit is provided with numerous perforating ventilating openings 30 whereby to. provide for air supply, and also assisting in the flexibility of the suit.

The construction, advanta es and utility of the invention will be rea ily understood from the foregoing description, and will be appreciated by those accustomed to the use of motor-cycles or other high speed dangerous vehicles.

All exposed portions of the body of the wearer are amply protected against severe shocks of impact or blows incidental to accidental contact with the ground, other riders, fences, etc.

The suit is comparatively light, amply flexible, and of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction. It may be changed or varied in the arrangement of the tubular ribs, their manner of application, the detail construction of the several parts, or otherwise by the skilled mechanic, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims. w

What I claim is 1. An armor suit consisting of continuous flexible fabric and provided with outermost series of tubular ribs, individual separable casings therefor secured to the fabric, substantially as set forth.

2. An armor suit consisting of continuous flexible fabric and provided with outermost series of tubular ribs arranged in looped arrangement, individual separable casings therefor secured 'to the fabric, substantially as set forth.

3. An armor suit consisting of continuous flexible fabric and provided with outermost series of tubular ribs arranged in looped arrangement across the body, shoulder and thigh portions, and encircling the terminal portions of the arms and legs, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a suit of suitable fabric, of an outermost protecting inflatable tube of suitable material variously arrangedthereon and provided with an inflating terminal connection, and a. divisible laced casing therefor secured to the fabric, substantially as set forth. 1

5. The combination with the'suit fabric,

of an inflatable tube, and supplemental inclosing flaps therefor secured to the suit and having means for. connecting them together around the tube, substantially as set' forth.

6. The combination with a suitable divided continuous one-piece suit, of series of inflatable conduits laid upon the body portion, arms and legs of the suit, each of such series being provided with an air pressure connection, and with a divisible laced casing secured to the fabric, substantially as set I forth.

7. The combination with a suit of the class described provided with a neck opening and a two-part separable supporting base encircling the neck opening, of a superimposed helmet having an inner supporting frame removably connected with the suit, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with a suit of the class described provided with a. neck opening and a two-part separable supporting base encircling the neck opening, of a superimposed helmet having an inner supporting ,frame removably connected with the suit and separable from such support, substantially as set forth. r

9. The combination with a suit of the class 20 described having a neck opening, of a twopart separable supporting frame mounted thereon extending upwardly above the neck opening and provided with a series of arms, and a surrounding helmet having an outer cushioning portion. and receiving apertures for said frame, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a suit of the class described, of a helmet consisting of an outer inflatable portion, and an inner cushioning portion, an upper protecting coping, a two-part separable neck ring, and a supporting frame extending upwardly from said ring within the helmet and engaging the said coping, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the. presence of two witnesses.

FRANK MARCOVSKY. Witnesses W. C. DICKEN, C. M. CLARKE. 

